HitchBOT’s co-creators told reporters that they have been overwhelmed by offers to help and are considering rebuilding the bot. David Smith, a professor at McMaster University and co-creator, told CBC News that the robot’s demise had been particularly hard on its younger fans.

“We want to let them know that a robot is not entirely like a person. Unlike people, robots can be rebuilt,” he said.

As the bot’s thousands of fans look for someone to blame, its creators are focused on their next steps. “We are not in the business of blame,” Smith added. “We have a lot of work to do.”

An official statement attributed to the family of hitchBOT says the creators have no plans to press charges or locate the individuals who vandalized the beloved bot. “We wish to remember the good times, and we encourage hitchBOT s friends and fans to do the same,” they wrote.

The Philadelphia police department tells PEOPLE that there will be no investigation into the matter as the robot’s owners have not filed a report.

Prior to coming its fateful trip in the U.S., hitchBOT completed successful treks across Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands.